It’s time to review our agency resources. My boss wants it handled internally but I want to use a consultant. How do I sell her on the benefits of using a consultant?

Agency reviews should only be considered if they are operationally mandated or when all other avenues for agency performance improvement have been considered. Should a review be deemed necessary, engaging a consultant provides numerous benefits including:

1. Reviews are time consuming and can be very disruptive to an organization’s operations. A consultant can act as the sole point of contact for all agencies under consideration thereby minimizing the time
necessary to communicate with all candidate agencies

2. A consultant will have current, relevant information regarding the best selection of agencies available to handle your business – also minimizing the time spent identifying and compiling a list of potential agencies.

3. Consultants offer a process that is designed to provide a level playing field for all participants thereby minimizing the potential for challenges based on real or perceived levels of fairness

4. Consultants should be able to provide a framework for both qualitative and quantitative evaluations of all participants and their viability as partners.

5. Consultants can mediate client-side concerns relative to agency selection.

6. Consultants will work with you to develop a relevant strategic assignment for finalist agencies.

7. Consultants can review compensation proposals for best practices and benchmark costs against current, like agencies.

8. Consultants can also develop relationship performance criteria for ongoing assessment